“DePo Masthead” Review for WordPress.com

If you’re reading this post, you’re doing so through a “DePo Masthead by Derek Powazek.”

DePo Masthead is the template style choice I have made for this blog.

Mr. Derek Powazek does all of us a favor by both designing this look and feel for free, and then by making it available to anyone who wants it, again at no cost.  That’s pretty cool.

Technically, this is known as a:

3 Column

Fixed Width

Light (ly colored)

Theme.

So, a quick review from a layman user’s point of view.

Look and Feel – Nice.  Clean.  Open.  Lots of white space.  Thin but distinct visual blocking.  Minimalist color use, but well chosen.

Usability - Overall, good.  Once you understand how the columns will really work together, and if you are willing to select visual breakpoints for your work, definitely usable.

Flexibility - OK.  Good standard set of widgets, but missing some important ones for blogging, like the “Share This” toolbar.

Support - None.  Not that it’s really needed.  This theme works as advertised, at least for the widgets I’ve tested.  So, if you understand that you’re on your own when you pick it, and what it will and won’t do for you, then you’re fine.

One minor suggestion- I’d like to be able to change the typesize of the “Thinking Out Loud” visual.  It’s kind of overwhelming and could stand being toned down, at least optionally.  However, this is not a good enough reason, in my mind, to go looking for another theme.

Overall, my review is, “Solid.  Well done.  Nice job.  Thanks for being cool and giving this away.”

Thanks for reading.  Hope it’s useful.